She entered into films as a teenager and first gained attention in Jacques Demy's musical The Umbrella's of Cherbourg (1964). Known for her air of reserve as well as for her great beauty, she became a leading international star, appearing in such films as Roman Polanski 's Repulsion (1965) and Luis Buñuel's Belle de Jour (1967). She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Indochine (1992). She also appeared in Dancer in the Dark (2000).